Top 10 bizarre sporting injuries

Eurosport - Wed, 05 Aug 16:01:00 2009

Manchester City's new signing Carlos Tevez suffered a heel injury after slipping in the shower, but he is not the first sportsman sidelined by a bizarre injury.

Dave Beasant - 0

1. Sam Torrance sleepwalks out of Ryder Cup

Scottish golfer Torrance has a long history of sleepwalking, but at the 1993 Ryder Cup his problem became a nightmare.

Torrance leapt out of bed and tackled a Yukka tree, believing it to be an intruder, and broke his toe in the process. The incident caused him to miss the singles matches on the final day at The Belfry.

"For months afterwards I was unmercifully ribbed by my colleagues," he said. "Every time I hit into the trees, someone would say, 'Careful Sammy, it's a jungle out there!'"

2. Alex Stepney gets jaw-ache

Manchester United goalkeeper Alex Stepney was not one to suffer fools. With his team's defence in disarray during a match against Birmingham in 1975 Stepney shouted so aggressively he dislocated his jaw.

3. Dave Beasant (pictured) crocked by condiment

Beasant will always be remembered for his penalty save for Wimbledon against Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup final, but the goalkeeper could do nothing to stop a falling bottle of salad cream in 1993. The offending condiment smashed on his ankle and damaged ligaments, leaving Beasant ruled out for eight weeks.

4. John Smoltz straightened out

Baseball players pride themselves on immaculate uniforms, so it was no surprise that Atlanta Braves' pitcher Smoltz wanted to iron his jersey. The problem was he decided to do it while he was wearing it, leading to a nasty scalding.

5. Lee Trevino struck by lightning

The inimitable American golfer was struck by lightning by the 13th green during the Western Open at Butler National Club near Chicago. Trevino was rushed to hospital along with playing partner Jerry Heard, but emerged unscathed. His advice to golfers threatened by electric storms in future - hold up a one-iron to the sky. ''Even God can't hit a one-iron," he said.

6. Colin Smart follows the scent

England's rugby squad were in buoyant mood following their 1982 Five Nations victory against France in Paris. Leading the revelry was forward Maurice Colclough, who pretended to drink a bottle of aftershave in front of his team-mates. Colclough had cleverly substituted the aftershave for water, but Smart thought he had just seen the bravest act of his rugby career. The prop proceeded to drink a real bottle of aftershave and was rushed to hospital to have his stomach pumped.

7. Fred Titmus propelled to success

England vice-captain Titmus was enjoying a leisurely swim during the 1967/68 tour of the West Indies when he got his foot caught in the propeller of a boat, breaking four toes in the process. Despite fears his career might be over, Titmus returned to take 111 wickets for Middlesex and lead their batting averages the following season.

8. Kim Clijsters dogged by injury

The Belgian tennis player, and former world number one, was playing football with her boyfriend and her father when she tripped over her dog and injured her tailbone in 2006.

"I stumbled over Diesel and fell badly. Very stupid. Fortunately it was nothing serious but it was bad enough to have to take two days of rest," she said.

9. David Batty tamed by toddler

Former England midfielder Batty was set to comeback from an Achilles injury when his young daughter ran him over on a tricycle - putting him back on the treatment table.

10. Cavendish suffers Wii setback

British cyclist Cavendish was playing a snowboarding game on his Nintendo Wii when he fell off the board and damaged a calf muscle.

Will Tidey / Eurosport

Comment 2 - 21 of 21

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  1. Most arsenal fans at some point have had a mouth injury­ because they can all talk out of their arse

    From j, on Tue 6 Oct 4:24PM
  2. I was on a dinner date with Mrs. Beckham when I­ accidentally and most brutally stabbed myself in the­ eye ball with a dinner fork.

    From John W, on Wed 5 Aug 10:01PM
  3. what about the baldy player for newcastle bout 8 year­ ago, temura ketsbia or something like that, never­ scored for ages, finally put one in the net and kicked­ the advertising board in his celebration and brook his­ foot, was out for ages, typical magpie tool.

    From mick, on Wed 5 Aug 5:25PM
  4. RIO FERDINAND RESTING ON A CHAIR WITH FOOT ON A TABLE­ CELEBRATING HIS 21 MILLION TO LEEDS and he got of and­ strained a tendon behind his knee

    From Mary, on Wed 5 Aug 5:22PM
  5. h a ha ha

    From andyclosier, on Wed 5 Aug 5:11PM
  6. I think you missed the obvious, Nigel reo-coker injured­ himself while stretching in bed after watt must have­ been a "a wonderful night rest".
    And of­ course Canizares getting his arteries cut while shaving­ by a broken aftershave bottle which fell and made him­ loose his world cup 1st team spot to Casillas, a spot­ he has never regain.

    From hairyscarie, on Wed 5 Aug 4:44PM
  7. beckham...the idiot once slipped of the massage table­ in madrid and managed to fall balls deep into his­ masseuse' stinky...

    From Slider 88, on Wed 5 Aug 4:38PM
  8. I believe Julio Arca missed some games for Sunderland a­ few years ago when he was stung by a jellyfish on­ Seaburn beach during training

    From ben, on Wed 5 Aug 4:24PM
  9. The best one I think was Kanu playing for Pompey -­ injured his ankle while doing a goal celebration - a­ backflip. Either that other to Wright one before the FA­ cup match.

    From Gazzarr, on Wed 5 Aug 4:15PM
  10. Darius Vassell. Toenail. Drill. Fail. Remember?

    From The Northerner, on Wed 5 Aug 4:08PM
  11. Goalkeeper Richard Wright once injured himself whilst­ warming up in a match against Chelsea and was out for­ the rest of the season. This was a freak accident in­ which Wright saw a large sign instructing players to­ use temporary goals but he ignored the warning and fell­ on the sign, thereby injuring his ankle.

    From Michael, on Wed 5 Aug 4:02PM
  12. actually liam lawrence returned early last season

    From ANDREA R, on Wed 5 Aug 3:47PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I thought Liam Lawrence might have made the top ten as­ it's a bit more recent than some of the others. ­ Stoke City's Premier midfilder tripped over his pet­ labrador dog whilst walking down stairs and fell,­ damaging his ankle. He's been out for 8 weeks so­ far and still counting...

    From potteries_pilgrim, on Fri 28 Nov 2:04PM
  14. I thought Liam Lawrence might have made the top ten as­ it's a bit more recent than some of the others. ­ Stoke City's Premier midfilder tripped over his pet­ labrador dog whilst walking down stairs and fell,­ damaging his ankle. He's been out for 8 weeks so­ far and still counting...

    From potteries_pilgrim, on Fri 28 Nov 2:03PM
  15. Back in the 70s, Norwegian International defender Svein­ Grondalen had to withdraw from an International after­ an accident which happened while he was out jogging. He­ collided with a moose.

    From simoncowellseviltwin, on Thu 27 Nov 1:41PM
  16. Arsenal's Perry Groves was on the bench When­ Arsenal went scored he jumped up to celebrate only to­ hit his head on the roof of the dug-out! He knocked­ himself out and needed treatment from the physio.

    From simoncowellseviltwin, on Thu 27 Nov 1:41PM
  17. The Date Sunday December 5th 2004. Playing in the Swiss­ league, Servette midfielder Paulo Diogo scored against­ Schaffhausen, then jumped into the crowd to celebrate.­ On the way, he managed to catch his wedding ring on a­ fence and tore off the top half of his finger. He was­ booked for excessive celebration.

    From simoncowellseviltwin, on Thu 27 Nov 1:40PM
  18. ..and his balls are still up his arse!

    From peterst, on Thu 27 Nov 1:35PM
  19. luis saha once slipped in da tunnel before a mach and­ was out for a season or so

    From AyobamiI, on Thu 27 Nov 1:33PM
  20. will be better with video.

    From Gaara of the Desert, on Thu 27 Nov 1:32PM
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